Air-actuated mechanism for locking throttle levers



June 17, 1930. w. M. cRoss 1,753,954

7 AIR AQTUATED MECHANISM FOR LOCKING THROTTLE LEVERS Filed Aug. 31, 1928 INVENTOR )1. lZCrouv ATTOR EYg/J Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PT'E' QFFICE WILLIAM M. CROSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AIR-ACTUATED MECHANISM FOR LOCKING THROTTLE LEVERS Application filed August 31, 1928. Serial No. 303,333.

My invention relates to improvements in air-actuated mechanisms for locking throttle levers, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an air-actuated mechanism for positively locking throttle levers in their desired positions. In ordinary constructions, throttle levers are held in their adjusted positions by means of compression springs. hen these compression springs become weak or broken, the throttle levers may become loose and move.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which air under pressure may be used for positively locking the throttle lever in place when the throttle lever is released.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein the air employed for positively locking the throttle lever may be passed to the bell-actuating mechanism for notifying persons upon the train ortherearound that the train is about to be set in motion.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction, positive in operation, and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure l is a side elevation of my device as applied to a throttle lever,

Figure 2 is a central sectional view of my device as applied to a throttle lever, and

.Figure '3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a throttle lever l of a locomotive and a quadrant 2 to which the throttle lever may be secured. A gripping lever 3 is pivotally mounted at 4 upon the throttle lever 1. A spring-pressed catch 5 is slidably carried by the throttle lever l and is operatively connected to the gripping lever 3 by means of a connecting link 6.

A casing 7 is mo-untedupon the throttle lever 1 and is provided with a compartment 8. An inlet opening 9 is provided in the casing and communicating with the compartment 8. An air supply pipe 10 is disposed in communication with the inlet opening 9. A valve seat 11 is disposed in the casing 7 and arranged to receive a valve 12. 0 An outlet passageway 13 is provided in the casing and is arranged to communicate with the compartment 8 when the valve 12 is open. A bell-actuating mechanism 14 is o-peratively connected to the outlet 13 by means of a tube 15.

A valve guide 16 is integral with the valve 12 and slidably extends through an opening 17 in a packing 17. A valve'stem 18 is integral with the valve 12, and is movably carried by a nut 19. The valve guide 16 is provided with a reduced portion 20 which is arranged to receive the forked end 21 of an actuating member 22. The other end of the actuating member 22 is secured to a bolt 23 which secures the adjacent end of the connecting link 6 to the catch 5.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The

operation of the throttle lever and its purpose is well known in the art. The main purpose of my invention is to pro-vide a means for positively locking the throttle lever in any desired position and to give a warning each time the throttle lever is actuated. This warning signifies that a locomotive is going to start, or that it is going to increase or decrease its speed.

In actuating the throttle lever, the grip ping lever 3 must always be moved toward the handle portion 24L of the throttle lever so as to release the catch from the teeth of the quadrant 2. Movement of the catch imparts movement to the valve guide 16 through the actuating member 22, thus opening the valve. WVhen the valve 12 is opened, the air entering the compartment 8 through the supply pipe 10 may pass around the valve 12 through the outlet passageway 13,

the pipe 15, to the bell-actuating mechanism 14. The bell-actuating mechanism is well known and it is not necessary to explain the actuation of this mechanism at this time. It will therefore be understood that when the throttle lever 1 is actuated, the valve 12 is opened and the bell-actuating mechanism is set in motion.

When the gripping lever 3 is released, the, catch 5 will be moved into engagement with the adjacent notch of the. quadrant 2 by the usual spring. The air entering the compartment 8 will close the valve 12 and also aid in moving the catch into engagement with the quadrant. The pressure of the air in the compartment 8 will firmly hold the valve closed and will also hold the catch in engage- ,ment with the quadrant. In this manner,

positive means is provided for holding the throttle'lever in engagement with the quadrant and against displacement. The nut 19 vmay be adjusted upon the valve stem 18 so as to Vary the movement of the valve 12.

I claim: r 1. The combination with a throttle lever, of air-actuated means for holding said throttle lever against displacement, and means cooperating with said first named means for :rant, and a bell-actuating mechanism, of airactuated means carriedby said throttle lever v for normally holding said catch in engageand said air outlet, means for normally holding said valve in closed position, and an actuating member operatively connecting said valve with said catch whereby said valve may be opened when said catch is moved out of engagement with said quadrant thus allowing air to pass by said valve and through said air outlet. j

5. The combination with a throttle lever, a quadrant, a catch carried by said throttle lever and adapted to be moved into engagement with said quadrant, of a casing carried by said throttle lever, an air inlet for said casing, an air outlet for said casing, a valve disposed in said casing between said air inlet and said air outlet,-means for normally holding said valve in closed position, and an actuating member operatively connecting said valve with said catch whereby said valve may be opened when said catch is moved out of engagement with said quadrant thus allowing air to passby said valve and through said air outlet, said actuating mem-" ber being adapted to close said valve when said catch is released whereby air from said air inlet may pass into said casing for holding said valve in closed position and for. holding said catch in engagement with said quadrant.

Signed at Hyde Park' State Bank, 5314- Lake Park Ave, Chicago, in the county of 1 Cook, and State of Illinois, this twenty-fifth day of August A. D., 1928.

WILLIAM M. CROSS.

ment with said quadrant and for operating I said bell-actuating mechanism when said catch is moved away from said quadrant.

3. The combination with a throttle lever, a quadrant, a catch carried bysaid throttle lever and adapted to be moved into engage- .ment with said quadrant, of a casing carried by said throttle lever, an air inlet for said casing, an air outlet for said casing, a valve disposed in said casing between said air inlet and said outlet, means operatively connecting said valve with said catch, whereby air may be forced into said casing under pressure for normally holding said valve closed and for normally holding said catch in engagement with said quadrant, and means communicatlng with said outlet and connected to abell-actuating mechanism,

whereby the air under pressure may pass through said casing when said valve is opened and operate said bell-actuating mechanism.

4.. The combination with a throttle lever, a quadrant, a catch carried by said throttle leverand adapted to be moved into engagement with said quadrant, of a casing carried by said throttle lever, an air inlet for said casing, anair outlet for said casing, a valve disposed n sa d casingbetween said air inlet 

